Wood Duck Marsh: hunting and access
Wood Duck Marsh is 384 acres of public hunting land in Winnebago County, next to Lake Mills, managed by the DNR's wildlife bureau. Hunters reported 338 deer in Winnebago County in 2025.
Data updated October 2026. Area facts: the DNR's public hunting area data, read 2026-10. Harvest: Iowa DNR harvest reporting, 2021 to 2025.
Public hunting areas on the DNR atlasNational wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areasOther DNR landState parks and recreation areasCounty conservation board and city landIHAP landWood Duck MarshCounty lineLakeHighway
| Size | 384 acres in 2 pieces |
|---|---|
| County | Winnebago County |
| Deer harvest unit | Winnebago County |
| DNR lists for hunting | Deer, Pheasant and Waterfowl |
| Managed by | the DNR's wildlife bureau |
| Habitat (DNR) | 1/3 Marsh, 1/3 Upland, 1/3 Timber |
| Nontoxic shot | Required (DNR) |
| DNR contact | Clear Lake Wildlife Unit |
| Nearest towns | Lake Mills (next to it), Joice (5 mi) and Scarville (5 mi) |
What is Wood Duck Marsh like?
The DNR describes the habitat as 1/3 marsh, 1/3 upland, 1/3 timber.
From the DNR's Hunting Atlas layer.
What can you hunt on Wood Duck Marsh?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant and waterfowl for Wood Duck Marsh.
What are the rules on Wood Duck Marsh?
The DNR's layer marks this area as nontoxic shot only.
Iowa's general hunting rules apply, and some DNR land is a posted wildlife refuge closed during set seasons; Iowa DNR wildlife management areas has area maps.
How many deer are taken around Wood Duck Marsh?
Wood Duck Marsh lies in Winnebago County. Hunters reported 338 deer in Winnebago County in 2025, against 287 in 2024.
| County | Wood Duck Marsh acres in it | Deer, 2025 | Deer, 2024 | Deer, 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnebago County | 384 | 338 | 287 | 296 |
Harvest for the whole county, not the hunting area alone: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
How do you get to Wood Duck Marsh?
The DNR's directions: 1 mile SW of Lake Mills on 12th Ave S.
Nearest towns: Lake Mills (next to it), Joice (5 miles), Scarville (5 miles) and Leland (6 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 69, IA 9 and IA 971. 1 IHAP tract within 3 miles.
What other public land is near Wood Duck Marsh?
Public hunting areas within 10 miles:
- Wood Duck Marsh WPA: 75 acres, next to it
- Rice Lake WPA: 296 acres, next to it
- Rice Lake Wildlife Area: 2,621 acres, 0.5 miles away
- Winnebago County Home Farm: 370 acres, 1.5 miles away
- Jensen Tract: 97 acres, 1.9 miles away
- Bolstad Wildlife Area: 21 acres, 2 miles away
Public land within 3 miles of Wood Duck Marsh
Counting Wood Duck Marsh itself, 3,599 of the 28,116 acres within 3 miles of its boundary are public land open to the public (12.8%), by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
| Manager | Acres within 3 miles |
|---|---|
| Public hunting areas on the DNR atlas | 3,542 |
| State parks and recreation areas | 29 |
| County conservation board and city land | 21 |
| Other DNR land | 4 |
| National wildlife refuges and waterfowl production areas | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
Where is Wood Duck Marsh?
In Winnebago County, next to Lake Mills.
What can you hunt on Wood Duck Marsh?
The DNR's atlas lists deer, pheasant and waterfowl. Nontoxic shot is required.
How much public land is around Wood Duck Marsh?
3,599 acres within 3 miles of its boundary, Wood Duck Marsh included, by USGS PAD-US 4.1 and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries. The closest other public hunting area is Wood Duck Marsh WPA (next to it).
Get a Iowa hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Iowa are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Iowa included.
Where these facts come from
- Area description, species, rules and directions: Iowa DNR public hunting areas (Hunting Atlas layer).
- Boundary and acres: the DNR's map layer above. Surrounding public land: USGS PAD-US 4.1 (fee land open to the public) and the DNR's public hunting area boundaries.
- Deer harvest: Iowa DNR harvest reporting (2021 to 2025 seasons).
FilledTag is not part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Check the DNR's rules and posted signs before you go.